Calculators

Automotive

Leasing has become a very popular method of acquiring a new auto. Although the payments may seem attractive, it may not always be the best financial decision versus purchasing the vehicle outright and financing it with a low interest loan. Use the following calculator to help analyze the financial impact of lease versus buy.

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Business

Implementation of a Qualified Plan and/or Section 125 Cafeteria Plan can result in significant tax savings and benefits to both the employer and employee. Use the following calculator to estimate the potential savings generated by implementing one or both of these plans.

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Cash Flow

Businesses generate a sources and uses of cash statement to evaluate their income and expenses and to check profitability. Similarly, a cash flow statement can help you evaluate your personal income and expenses and see if you are running 'in the red or the black' each month.

In order to get where you want to go, you need to know where you are. You can get a view of your financial position by generating a personal net worth statement. Over time your net worth will change as your assets earn interest or are depleted and your liabilities increase or decrease. Use this calculator to estimate what your net worth could be in the future based on specified growth rates.

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College

With college costs increasing at twice the rate of inflation, it is important to start saving early. Interest working for you now in a regular savings program is much better than having interest work against you in the future in the form of education loans. Use our college savings calculator to determine how much you should be saving for college on a regular basis.

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Credit

Americans today owe more money than ever before. The fact that 'interest never sleeps' means that the situation will continue to worsen unless steps are taken at the individual level to reduce or eliminate debt. Additional monthly payments can make a difference to accelerate the payoff and save yourself hundreds and thousands in interest payments. Use our calculator to figure out when you can pay off your credit card.

Over the course of a loan amortization you will spend hundreds, thousands, and maybe even hundreds of thousands in interest. By making a small additional monthly payment toward principal, you can greatly accelerate the term of the loan and, thereby, realize tremendous savings in interest payments. Use our extra payment calculator to determine how much more quickly you may be able to pay off your debt.

The loan amount, the interest rate, and the term of the loan can have a dramatic effect on the total amount you will eventually pay on a loan. Use our loan payment calculator to determine the payment and see the impact of these variables on a specified loan amount complete with an amortization schedule.

Insurance

Most people earn a small fortune during their lifetime. Yet many of them are unaware of how their annual income adds up over the years.
This calculator, designed to help you estimate how much you'll earn before you retire, may surprise you with your own earning capacity.

With medical advances and improved lifestyles, life expectancies in the United States are on the rise.* Use this basic calculator to help determine how many years you may need to plan for in retirement or how many years you may need to provide income to a surviving spouse or children.
* Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2001

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Investments

Tax-deferral can have a dramatic effect on the growth of an investment. Use this calculator to determine the future value of an investment being subject to income tax each year versus deferring the tax until withdrawal.

On your way home from work, do you drive in the slow lane or the fast lane? Each person has a different propensity for risk. When investing, this risk propensity can be used to determine the percentage of your portfolio that is exposed to equities. Complete the following questionnaire to help determine your risk profile.

It may surprise you how much more you could accumulate in savings simply by repositioning assets to achieve potentially a slightly higher return. Even one, two or three percent return over a short number of years can make a dramatic difference.

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Paycheck and Benefits

Contributions to a qualified plan, participation in a company-sponsored cafeteria plan, change in filing status, or number of allowances claimed will have a direct impact on take-home pay. For example, due to federal tax savings, contributions to a qualified plan do not translate into a direct dollar-for-dollar tradeoff on take-home pay. Use this calculator to help compare your current situation to what-if scenarios.

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Qualified Plans

Many employees are not taking full advantage of their employer's matching contributions. If, for example, your contribution percentage is so high that you obtain the $17,500 (year 2013) limit or $23,000 (year 2013) limit for those 50 years or older in the first few months of the year then you have probably maximized your contribution but minimized your employer's matching contribution.

Roth IRA is a great way for clients to create tax-free income from their retirement assets. Yet, keep in mind that when you convert your taxable retirement assets into a Roth IRA you will generally pay ordinary income tax on the taxable amount that is converted. The conversion amount is not subject to the 10% early distribution penalty. Your tax-free potential is maximized if you pay the taxes from your current income or personal savings and not from your IRA. Individuals of all income levels are eligible to convert to a Roth IRA.

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Retirement

It may surprise you how much inflation can erode purchasing power. Use this calculator to estimate how much more income you may need when factoring in inflation between now and until you reach retirement to keep the same standard of living that you may have today.

Retirement can be the saddest or happiest day of your life. This pre-retirement calculator will help you determine how well you have prepared and what you can do to improve your retirement outlook. It is important that you re-evaluate your preparedness on an ongoing basis. Changes in economic climate, inflation, achievable returns, and in your personal situation will impact your plan.

A penny saved is a penny earned, but a penny saved today is a penny potentially earning more. Use this calculator to determine how much more you could accumulate at retirement by beginning your savings plan today rather than waiting.

The rate of return (ROR), sometimes called return on investment (ROI), is the ratio of the yearly income from an investment to the orignial investment. The initial amount received (or payment), the amount of subsequent receipts (or payments), and any final receipt (or payment), all play a factor in determining the return. Use this rate of return calculator to calculate these returns.

Compound interest can have a dramatic affect on the growth of a single deposit. By dividing 72 by your investment return you can determine the amount of time required for your money to be worth about twice as much as it is today.

Taxes

Taxes are unavoidable and without planning, the annual tax liability can be very uncertain. Use the following calculator to help determine your estimated tax liability along with your average and marginal tax rates.
For "high-income" workers you may experience an increase in your 2013 federal taxes going forward due to a number of new provisions such as personal exemption phaseouts, limits to itemized deductions, 3.8% Medicare tax on investment income and the creation of a new tax bracket (39.6%).

Each April many taxpayers are surprised as they realize that they have either over withheld or under withheld on their taxes. Use this calculator each year to help determine whether you are likely to be on target based on your current withholding status. Make adjustments to your employer W-4 form, if necessary, to more closely match your liability. In the event of a surplus, you may be able to increase your take home pay.
For "high-income" workers you may experience an increase in your 2013 federal taxes going forward due to a number of new provisions such as personal exemption phaseouts, limits to itemized deductions, 3.8% Medicare tax on investment income and the creation of a new tax bracket (39.6%).